Testing machine



A g- 4, 93 L. M. SHOWERS, JR 1,317,170

TESTING MACHINE- Filed D80. 16, 1929 3 SheetsSheet l WITNESSES 1N VEN TOR:

a, M Lewis'MSZwwergJ; BY W TTORNEYS.

Aug. 4, 1931. 'L. M. SHOWERS, JR v 1,317,170

TESTING MACHfNE Filed Dec. 16, 1 929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FTC-r. I.

A TTORNEYS.

g- 4, L. M. SHOWERS, JR 1,817,170

TESTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES H INVENTOR: @ZQ M LewzLsHSiwwers, Jr, 1 womsys. I

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 TES STA

invention relates to testing machines 'andjcmore"particularly to machines for test- "inghardnessof-metals by penetration. The invention has forits object the provision of aTimprovedfmeans for holding the object to chislels are accommodated. More specifical- ,be ,te;sted," and it particularly characterized by a 'nove1 arrangement of'parts including opposed clampmembers between which tools "or otherjobjects of irregular shape, such as '13; the clamp'members are so arranged that one of them is fixed withrelation to the axis ofthe testing or penetrating point, whereas the; other I clamp 'ine'mber. has capacity for 'universal motion .in adjusting itself to the inclination of the surface of the work to be j tested incident. .to gripping the same. "Though "capable of angular. movement with "respect tocach other, the clamp members It; t'esterh Inasmuch gas} the i are so arranged that they are at all times maintained in line withjthe axis" of the testing'pointi' g Further objects and; advantages. of the invention will be apparent from the detailed all description, which .follows and which has reference) to the" accompanying drawings, ''wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

" Of the drawingsi Fig. 'Iis aside elevation of a machine for ftesting hardness of material, embodying. the improvements of my invention; Fig. II is.a sectionalyiew of the machine e1"; Fig-" I it lllif l ng the lines II.II of f I Fig. is an. enlarged cross-section taken fas' indicatedby" the lineSIII-III of Fig. I; land, 1. t

. IV is enlarged cross-section taken iwith -ipar ticular referenceto Fig. I, the 5 rn'ia chine' as ifllus'trated comprises a base 1 improvements PATENT OFFICE 'L EWiIS M. snownns, an. or JUNIATVA, PENNSYLVANIA Y TESTING MACHINE Application filed December 16, 1929. Serial No..414,304.

and an overhanging support 2 mounted on pillars 3, the threaded ends of which are held by nuts 4. In the base 1 there is provided an elevating screw 5 which serves as the work supporting means and which is vertically movable toward or away from the testing point by means of a nut 6 having the form of a hand wheel. The elevating screw 5 is keyed to the base 1 so that it is capable of vertical movement but not rotative movement. In line with the elevating screw 5, and mounted directly overhead, is a testing rod 7, on the end of which a testing point 8 is provided. The head of the testing rod 7 is flanged at 9 to engage one end of a spring 10. The other end of the spring 10 bears upon a sleeve 11 which has a flanged upper end 12 receiving the lower knife edge of a double-knife-edged block 13.

Supported on the upper knife edge of the block 13 is a testing lever 14 fulcrumed on the support 2 at 15. Movement of the testing lever 14 is communicated through the block 13, the sleeve 11 and the spring 10 to the testing point 8. The lever 14 is in turn connected to an additional lever 16 by means of a link 17 The lever 16 serves as a weight arm, carrying at its outer end a weight 16a, and the lever 16 is fulcrumed at 18 on the support 2. To lift the lever or weight arm 16, a lifting lever 19 is provided. This lever 19 is fulcrumed at 20 and carries on a support 21 a transverse lifting pin 22 adapted to normally support the weight arm 16 in the position in which it is shown. To operate the lifting lever 19 a crank 23, having a pin 24 extending into the slotted end of the lifting lever 19, is employed. The crank 23 is turned by means of a crank handle which is not shown. On the lifting lever 19 there is also provided a rod 25 with a piston thereon within a dash pot 26 which is afiixed to the support 2.

There is. also mounted on the support 2 a measuring gauge 27, the pointer of which denotes the degree of movement of the testing point 8. The gauge 27 is actuated by means of a lever 28 fulcrumed at 29 and mounted directly above the testing rod 7, the upper end of which is adapted to bear upon the lever 28 to transmit to the gauge pointer an angular movement proportionate to the lineal movement of the testing rod 7 The machine as thus far described contalns no novel elements and conforms to a standard type of hardness testing maclnne now inuse. i

To hold the worka'chisel 30 1's, shown as the object to be testedlemploy opposed clamp members, the upper one 31 being always maintained with its work engaging roughened surface 32 in a plane at right angles to the axis of the testing point 8,

' and the lower clampmember' 33 beingpivotally mounted on a pin 3 l'prov'ided with a hemispherical head 35 and fitting ins-the upper endoi the elevating screw'5. On the elevating screwthere is also, provided means for moving the upper clamp member 31 toward or away from the testing point 8 comwithin the annular, groove 43 on; the sleeve 38, so that the sleeve and ring may be inserted into the top of the nut 36., and,

when so insertechthe ring 37 is've xpanded into the annular groove 44: at the topoi the fnut, forming a'swivel joint bet-ween'the nut 36 and sleevej38f. The sleeve 38Vis in turn Ts plined to the elevating screw 5 by means of a key45 fittingwithin the Qvertical .slot 46 in thescrew msnwwn inYFig. IV, so that virotative movement of the nut 36 moves the sleeve vertically with respect to the screw 5 but without, rotation; The upper flanged member 31 spaced :at a convenient distance therefromby rods 39 and nuts 40, these parts forming a yoke through whichfthe tool is is guided its vertical travel by the elevatinserted. Thus the upper clamp member 3 1 ing screw 5 andisalsoat all times maintained in alignmentwith the axis of the testing point 8 which is. adapted to pass through acentral -opening41 in. the member 31. 1 i

The nut 36 provided forlconvenience with handles 42 which assist theoperator in drawing together or apart. the, opposing i clamp members 31 and 33in 'aimanner obvioust from the r description.

1 I As the clamp em ers 31: and 33 approach each other on oppositesides of the object 30 to be tested,

the. lower clamp 33 willadjust itself, by reasonzof its capacity for universal; motion on the hemlspherical head 35, tethe anguvlarity of the lower surface of the object 30,

,while'the upper surface of the object 30 will a be maintained in horizontal position byvthe upperclamp 31. Accordingly, the object 30,

' 'regardless of its irregularity, can be firmly gripped in the proper position directly beneat the testing point 8.

gauge index pointer.

3 claim first clamping and positioning the object to be tested, by turning the handles 42 to draw the clamp members 31, 33 together about the object in the manner described; and then elevating the same by means of the hand W ee 6 until the ject bears upon thetesting point 8 and iorces the testingrofi 7 upward against the lever to actuate the gauge index pointer and move it to a predetermined point on the dial of the gauge. When the parts are in position for the application of the major pressure, that is applied by turning the handle (not shown) which operates the crank 23 thereby releasing the lifting lever from beneath the Weight, arm; 16 and causing t e l eifect Yet the: weightQWe-be exertedthrough the' ever l6, thelink li, the lever 14, and the block 13 11pm; the sl'eeve l hich is moved. into mutan with. the

shoulder 9 .on the testing rod 7 Qonseqnently the force of. he weight i multlplied, through the vari u levers described and transmitted to the testing point 8 whinh'penetrates the object 30,:the degree of penetra tion being measured the movement 0f While I, have des ribed my inventien in so e d il d ith reference to a pa iallar embodiment thereof applied to a -eertein: type of testing machine, it will beapp-arent to thoseskilled in the art that-the i fin ipn' In ay be equally well applied ether types o tes ng machines, and that various an es mayb 'ma ein the form (if the appa el described and illus rated wi hout depa tiHg from the spirit of theinvention, as set forth 1 V H H in the cla ms appended hereto; end of the sleeve 38,0311188 the upper clamp Having thus describ 73 ii 'veet'ien, I

.1; Ina testing-:maehine: of the characte described in u ng aiqtesting pointtand a work-support movable toward the testing point, a yoke guided on said work support,

means for movi g the yoke tew rdthe testing point, a clamp member carried on said Y adjacent. a: the testing peint with its ork e gaging surface iniixed relatien t0 theaxis thereotan anopposed clampmema ber pivoted on said worksripport. 1

V 2. In; a testing machined-the chambe d s i d ncluding a testing point:- and a work-support movable toward'the testing p i t, a yoke g ided 011: said wo k support,

sage fthe' e sting point. here h ough and havi g s ork engaging surface at right ang to the axis of the testing peint sees an pp am member piveted on said wo uppert movable teweideans r moving said yoke'teward the test- 4 g po nts clamp membercarriedby said yoke having an opening permitting the paspoint, a yoke keyed to said work support, means for moving said yoke toward the testing point, a clamp member carried on said yoke adjacent to the testing point with its work engaging surface in fixed relation to the axis thereof, and an opposed clamp member pivoted for universal movement on said work support.

4. In a testing machine of the character described including a testing point and a screw serving as a work support movable toward the testing point, a yoke having a portion in the form of a nut on said screw, a clamp member carried on said yoke adjacent the testing point with its work engaging surface at right angles to the axis thereof, and an opposed clamp member pivoted on said work support.

5. In a testing machine of the character described including a testing point and a screw serving as a work support and movable toward the testing point, a nut on said screw, a sleeve, a swivel oint connecting said nut and sleeve, means for holding said sleeve against rotation, a clamp member carried on the sleeve adjacent to the testing point, and an opposed clamp member on said screw.

6. In a testing machine of the character described including a testing point and a screw serving as a work support and movable toward the testing point, a nut on said screw, a clamp member carried on said nut adjacent the testing point with its work engaging surface at a fixed angle to the axis thereof, and an opposed clamp member pivoted on said screw with capacity for angular movement to adjust itself to the inclination of the surface of the work to be tested.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 4o signed my name at Altoona, Pennsylvania,

this 5th day of December, 1929.

LEWIS M. SHOWERS, JR. 

